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Visiting Artist Info

The USM Art department has a wide range of visiting artists staying different lengths of time. While visiting artists often give a public talk and work with students over a period of several days, our special Visiting Artist-in-Residence (VAIR) program fosters a more in-depth visit and opportunity to the artist to create a new work.

VAIR Program

The mission of the VAIR program is to enrich the Art Department 's student and faculty experience, add to the permanent collection and the campus's visual environment, and heighten the awareness of art and visibility of the art department on campus and in the region through the extended residency and related activities of a professional artist.

The University has had its successful artist-in-residence program since 1986. Visiting artists alternate in representing a variety of disciplines existing both within and outside the department. Students are directly involved with the artist through a flexible course specially designed by the artist-in-residence.

The residency occurs for at least seven weeks during the Spring semester, which runs from mid-January through mid-May. The artist-in-residence is expected to make a significant work of art during the residency which will become part of the permanent collection of the University of Southern Maine; give one public presentation; be available for discussions with faculty and students; and teach approximately 6-10 students as a class and/or supervise a similar number of students independently on a directed project. A honorarium of $10,000 plus a $4,500 budget for supplies and installation costs is provided as well as a small studio space. A solo exhibition at the USM Art Gallery in Gorham is a usual offering to the artist-in-residence.

To view site-specific work throughout Gorham and Portland campuses, please click here. Selections from the Visiting Artist-in-Residence Collection are also on view on the 7th floor of the USM Law Building, Portland Campus.